Jordan Dempsey wins the 2018 China F4 Championship
Jordan Dempsey has joined an exclusive club – Irish competitors to win an FIA Championship – having secured outright honours in the China F4 Championship last weekend at the final rounds around the Ningbo International Circuit.
Jordan finished his season in style with three podium finishes on route to winning the 2018 China F4 Championship. Photos: China F4
Dempsey had endured a trying weekend last time out in Wuhan but went into the final meeting with a 20-point lead in the series.
He had won twice at the Ningbo street circuit earlier in the season, and on the return, set an early marker in free practice that he was keen to finish his year on a high by topping the timesheets,
Dempsey maintained that form in qualifying to secure pole position by two tenths of a second for the opening race of the weekend.
In that race the Pinnacle Motorsport-run driver put in a textbook performance.
A superb start translated into an early lead that he would extend to over five seconds at the chequered flag.
Starting race two from pole position again, Dempsey had to keep one eye on the championship as he was now in a position to seal it.
Keen to stay out of trouble, Dempsey slipped back to fourth early on, but the natural racer was keen to return to the front and worked his way forward over the following laps.
As he closed in on the lead, Dempsey chose to remain in second as a lead battle looked as if it could be risky.
The runner-up spot was sufficient for Dempsey to secure his first FIA title, with one race to spare.
There was no time to celebrate, as there was a final race of the weekend to complete.
Dempsey was quickly focused back on the job, but from P9 on the grid, there was a gear selection problem with his car as the green flag lap began and he had to be pushed to the pit lane.
Despite a rapid repair by the Pinnacle mechanics, he started well behind the others, though a safety car start due to the heavily wet track conditions helped him to catch up.
He worked his way up to P3, but he was spun out by a rival and dropped down the order.
The gear selection problem still present, Dempsey managed to find third gear to get going, and with the clear and loud support of the Ningbo crowds cheering him, he charged back up the field once more to finish the race in fourth – which following post-race penalties would become P3 as his reward for a thrilling final race of the season.
Jordan stated: “What a great year. To win an FIA affiliated championship is a great feeling!
“I can’t thank the guys at Pinnacle Motorsport enough – they’ve been a step ahead all year and it really shows with the championship title.
“Also thanks to Tim and Rosalee at TBRM, Digital Planet, Motorsport Ireland, Sport Ireland, Team Ireland and my family for always supporting me.”
